Gianna Clemente competes in prestigious junior golf tournaments

Gianna Clemente, a 16-year-old golfer from Florida, continues to impress in junior and amateur golf. She gained attention at just 14 years old by qualifying for three consecutive LPGA Tour events. Now, she heads into her third Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) next month and is currently competing in her fourth Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club. Clemente expressed her excitement to return to Sage Valley, calling it one of her favorite tournaments. She appreciates how well the organizers treat the players during the event. Last year, she tied for 11th, building on her impressive performance history that includes a recent win at the Mizuho Americas Open and strong showings at other top events. In her opening round at Sage Valley, Clemente had a rough start, bogeying three holes early on and finishing with a 4-over 76. Despite this, she believes the tournament format change to 72 holes will create more opportunities to improve her score. Looking ahead to the ANWA, Clemente has successfully made the cut in her previous two appearances. She finished tied for fifth last year and feels that having weeks like this one helps her prepare for high-pressure situations. She emphasizes the importance of balancing fun with competition, especially while staying with other players. Clemente also acknowledges that her experience at such prestigious events gives her an advantage.